Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-12-16
MR., BEN0NTS STORY.

This is Mr.. Benoni,' said my friend
DR.. Banks, as sudden turn in the gravel
walk brought US almost face to face with
man seated on Il rustic bench. Mr..
Benoni is friend Of mine, and is here on
visit This last was said by way of
introduction in Mr. Benoni's hearing. he
having risen and advanced towards us.
He was tail, lroportionately broad. and
his steel gray hair framed an intellectual
face Mr.. Benoni. continued DIR.
Banks, when we had sauntered up to the
bench and seated ourselves. cloves ma
ture. [ venture to say that two hours
before we We're stirring he was wander
ing through the garden listening to the
voices of the morning.
Yes" said Mr. Benoni, Il was out
early this charming morning; and where
could one enjoy it more fully than in this
beautiful garden: Your friend '-ad-
dressing me-"made a fortunate choice
when he selected this site for country
place. One can roam for hours without
firing through the spacious grounds DR..
Banks understands me. He knows that
| love to commune with nature. and he
often leaves me undisturbed in the soil
tude of some shady retreat. There is
but one objection to the place, and that
objection arises through the doctors
own fault. l speak frankly and with
out reference to yourself-he has
too many friends. The house is often
full of them. He is constantly asking
people to visit him. and those who come
usually stay long time. They interfere
with my enjoyment of nature. When l
have found solitary nook where I can
remain undisturbed. one of the doctors
friends appears in view-more than
likely Mr.. Arundel, who is seated yonder
reading, and who seems to have a habit
of getting in my way. When | first Wis
tied the doctor here. he did not have so
many friends. But l suppose his CON
stantly growing practice has brought him
into contact with many people. | will
not be 50 selfish as to wish that he had
been less successful. But l am growing
old now, inclined to be querulous. and
have been here so long that regard the
place somewhat as my own. Hence nv
frankness. love the doctor-he is the
only man l love-for only he, the birds
and the flowers understand me-.
DR.. Banks had been listening with
good natured look to Mr.. Benoni's strict
ures on his liberalty. ''Benoni." he
said, Il am sure my friend is another
man who will understand you, if YOU will
tell him your story. He has travelled
much. seen much and read much. but
am quite sure he has never had or heard
of stranger experience tl.an yours. He
is my best friend-in strong sympathy
with all my thoughts and opinions: and
/ am convinced that as | understand YOU,
so will he"
Mr.. Benoni looked at me earnestly, and
then bowed his head meditatively. Look
ing suddenly up again and pointing to a
lily which rose majestically yet gracefully
above a bed of flowers, he said That
lily brings wildly before me a form of
grace and a face of beauty-the form and
face of my dead wife. hold the doctor
dea, above all other men. because he
knew her and remembers her beauty.
love nature, because in all that is beauti-
ful III nature | can see her. Hence | love
solitude, because in solitude | can best
commune with what is most beautiful in
nature.
NO one who never knew my wife can
appreciate the shadow which her death
has cast over my life. or form an idea
of th- grief and despair which since then
ha, entered my heart We had known
each other since childhood. for we had
gown up together. Our parents houses
Were adjoining. We romped together
with the children of the neighborhood.
In those childhood games | assumed a
KIND of protectorate over her, and
in those disputes in which chill
drens sports not infrequently end ]
took care that she was never
wronged. | remember especially one
occasion when | was her champion As
child. already Alice had a profusion of
black hair. In the days when we PLAYED
those romping games it was bound by
single ribbon. from which it fell over her
shoulders and back. When she ran her
motions were grace itself Her cheeks
glOwed with excitement. and her hair
streamed in the breeze. One day bov,
who was running after her in one of our
games. in his eagerness to catch her. in
stead of waiting till he gained ON her suf-
tciently to grasp her arm. caught her
streaming hair The check was so sud
dei and so rude that she fell with a sharp
cry of pain. What followed | cannot
tell OF my own knowledge. Lockers on
told me that / threw myself upon the
boy. and that short but severe fight en-
sued short because my blood was up
and l soon felled him. That incident
drew Alice and myself closer to one an
other, and our friendship soon became
proverbial among our companions. And
so our childhood passed. and she entered
upon lovely maidenhood and / upon
youth, The promise of her beauty as a
CHI! was more than fulfilled; the lowell
nes- of her face harmonized with the
maidenly grace of her form. In her
childhood l had been her protector, bnt
now it seemed as though | relied more
upon her than she upon me; for laid all
my hopes and ambitions before her, and
sought guidance of her. She would
listen To me with tender interest. and
advise me gently yet firmly.
Soon another bond Of sympathy
aI,ra ptr nm IatxvaaO ne XNa ba1 Il, con,